Hexapole takes medical grade magnets into a new era

November 1, 2009

"Q magnets have made a further break through in the design and development
of therapeutic magnets for the treatment of pain" says Managing Director James
Hermans.

There is a significant body of research that
demonstrates the effect static magnets with steep field gradients have
on nerve fibres. Steep field gradients are generated by the interaction of multiple
poles in close proximity.

The pioneering work by inventor and neurologist Dr Robert Holcomb while at Vanderbilt
Medical University lead the way in this field. Dr Holcomb's original design was
comprised of four bipolar disc magnets arranged in an alternating +/-/+/- quadrapolar
array (see below). The steepest
part of the field gradient was where the four bipolar
magnets made contact. Due to the physical constraints
of the round discs it's not practical to arrange six bipolar magnets into a hexapole
arrangement.

In 2008, utilising advanced techniques in magnetisation and a new design, James
and Dianne Hermans developed a rare earth, neodymium Quadrapolar magnet within
the one magnetic body. This meant that the steep field gradient was now generated
along the entire boundary of the four poles.

Now in 2009, the Hexapole design has arrived - HF28-3.
Instead of four alternating poles and four steep field gradient zones, there are
now six. The consequence for the patient in pain is that there are 6 instead of
4 active areas of the magnet so there is a greater chance that the field gradient
will penetrate the over-active and abnormally firing C-fibres that are eliciting
the pain signal.

Common bipolar
magnets put out a uniform field with a negligible field
gradient. While bipolar magnets
might be having different effects on the body, the
research shows they have a minimal
effect on interrupting the pain signal on afferent C-fibres.

James said..."While we have yet to conduct clinical trials on the hexapole
design, we are reasonably certain that the greater area of field gradients will
have a more profound effect on nerves and reducing pain. Initial trials with some
of the physiotherapists and professional athletes we have provided them to has
certainly confirmed this. There was also the case of the marathon runner with the tibia
stress fracture".